Huddle review at Unicorn Theatre, London – ‘beautifully crafted’

Huddle may be set on an icy tundra but it’s impossible not to warm to this tale of a father penguin and his fearless young chick.

Joseph Barnes-Philips and Victoria Dyson ‘speak’ entirely in squawks and hoots but give such effective physical and vocal performances that you feel like there’s a conversation taking place nonetheless. Barnes-Philips in particular is just joyful to watch, from the first moment his face lights up in a smile at the sight of this audience of two-to-five year olds.

Maxwell Nicholson-Lailey’s costumes are ingenious: instantly readable as ‘penguin’ yet with enough of a nod to people clothes to make father and chick relatable to their human audience. His set meanwhile – scattered with the paraphernalia of a Norwegian polar expedition – offers plenty of opportunity for whimsical play,

Owen Crouch’s sound design and composition and Ioanna Varsou’s animation enrich the storytelling beautifully, creating texture while also playing a vital role in offering clues to mood changes and advance warning of the trickier plot points.

Fifty minutes might have been a stretch for some of the very youngest audience members but Katy Costigan, Sarah Shephard and Victoria Dyson (Filskit’s artistic directors devised the show together, with Costigan and Shephard credited as co-directors) ensure that no one is left behind.

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